isiNdebele for beginners. Northern Ndebele language in Africa

IsiNdebele is the beautiful and expressive language of the Matabele/ amaNdebele people of Zimbabwe and is spoken in Southern Africa. It is sometimes called Northern Ndebele/ siNdebele. This blog gives you some simple appreciation of the isiNdebele language. Beginners please read from the bottom post before you read the newest posts at the top. Your comments are welcome for any suggestions or assistance.

Salibonani bangane (hello friends). If you are new, please start at the first post at the bottom and work your way up to this, the newest post.

Lamhla, let us look at a summary of the noun classes in isiNdebele. Once you know these noun classes, you will be able to use any noun.For more about each noun class, we now have 27 lessons up for you to learn isiNdebele formally:

To those who would like to write something for us to post, please email your writing to northernndebeleblog@gmail.com. For those who would like to ask questions, or help others with questions they ask, please look under the community tab for any comments:

We appreciate the engagement, as we would like it to be easy and fun to learn isiNdebele.

Salibonani bangane (hello friends). Lamhla, let us look at the case for words that are the same in singular and plural in isiNdebele.

Like the English word, "sheep" means one or many of the animal, so there are words in Ndebele which mean both. For example:ubunyonyo means either one ant or many ants, ubusuku means one or many nights, and ubuhlungu means pain or many pains (or poisons).

For more, read the lessons, we now have 25 lessons up for you to learn isiNdebele formally:

To those who would like to ask questions, or help others with information, we created a community tab for any comments:

We appreciate the engagement, as we would like it to be easy and fun to learn isiNdebele.

Salibonani bangane. If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way up to this, the newest post.We have uploaded a new lessons, including the verb classes which once learnt, are simple to apply nsukuzonke. Nxa uyafuna ukufunda isiNdebele , hamba khonapha khathesikoLessons tab:

Have fun bakithi, we look forward to hearing from you.

♫ Ndebele song artist to listen to while you learn: ♪ Dorothy Masuku♪ e.g Hamba Notsokolo or Magumede.♫

Salibonani bangane. Thanks to all those who write in every week to northernndebeleblog@gmail.com.

If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way up to this, the newest post.

Lamhlanje, let us give a reminder of the basic weather in isiNdebele:

Kuyaqanda - it is coldKuyatshisa - it is hot (can also be used for objects, like isinkwa kasitshisi - the bread is not hot)Ilanga liyatshisa - a more specific way to say it is hot (the sun is hot)Izulu liyana* - it is rainingNgiyagodola - I am cold (my body)

*this may be confusing because the Zulu are also a people, speaking isiZulu. In isiNdebele though, izulu means rain.

Kulungile, we have uploaded a few new lessons, so if you would like to learn isiNdebele more formally, continue here in the Lessons tab:

If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way to this, the newest post.

Lamhlanje, the question is, "What is samp, and what is it called in isiNdebele?"

Well, samp is made from corn/ mealies. Before it can get to a fine powder called "corn flour/ mealie meal" it is just the corn kernels chopped and stamped. This stage is called "samp", and is a common food in Southern Africa.

[Remember, the fine powder is called mealie meal (impuphu) and is used to make isitshwala (also called "pap" in South Africa). To see how isitshwala is made (and peanut butter spinach, which is delicious), see this little YouTube video we found earlier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PdP78WD74g.]

So what is samp in isiNdebele? Well, it is either itshakada or umgqutsu. For siNdebele readers in the community, which word do you use? What traditional drinks and foods do you like - isitshwala senyawuthi, idelele, amasi, amahewu, umqombothi?

If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way to this, the newest post.

Lamhla, let us look at some names of animals (inyamazana) in siNdebele. Some words you may have encountered already. Also, note that we have lessons out here:

Ok, here are some animals that come to mind. Check this list for how many you know, and then test yourself below. Good luck and let us know what your score was or if you think of any other words:

isibaya

ubhabhemi

ibhiza

bhonga

imbuzi

uchago

ichibi

idada

udaka

isidleke

indlovu

indwangu

elusa

ufudu

umfula

iganga

ingulube

igundwane

igwala

ingwe

isihlahla

umhlambi

ihlamvu

inhlanyelo

inhlanzi

umuhlwa

ubuhlungu

inja

inkabi

inkawu

ukhokho

inkomo

inkukhu

inkume

inkunzi

umlindi

luma

isilwane

umangoye

nona

unwabu

amanzi

phapha

impukane

iqaqa

umsila

intanga

ithole

isithutha

isitshebo

inwele

ixoxo

inyamazana

inyathi

inyoka

inyoni

zimuka

zingela

A bit of a trick but this is "a kraal/ holding pen for animals"

donkey

horse

Another trick, it's a "roar/ bellow"

goat (don't be so hard on yourself, manje, you're not that bad)

yet another trick, this is "milk", but it can come from animals

a pond, body of water

a duck

mud, which ducks might walk on

a "nest", perhaps for ducks

elephant (back to animals now)

a name for a "baboon"

a "herd"

tortoise

a river, kanti, pet tortoises don't swim, qaphela!

bushveld, open country

pig, not you though

rat, do you smell one?

a "coward", trick question again

leopard

a tree. Did you think it was only animals?

a "herd or flock" of animals (or people maybe too)

a leaf, fallen from isihlahla above

a seed. It seems the tree comes before the seed, funny hey?

fish

termites (white ants)

pain. These ants bite

dog

an ox

monkey, yes you are silly

ancestor, a good word

cow/ cattle

chicken

scorpion

bull, just a bull

a burrow/ hole animals use

bite, what the animal might do if you go into their burrow

lion. Run!

cat, don't need to run

be fat (especially animals being fat)

chameleon, otherwise known as a hamba bijana

water, another place you might find the idada

fly. A trick, this is "to fly". Ukuphapha

a fly, this one

skunk, uyanuka?

a tail (of the skunk even)

another trick, these are "pumpkin (or squash) seeds"

a calf

another trick, I couldn't resist. This is an "idiotic person"

relish accompanying the starch in a meal to spice it up

hair

a frog. Remember your soft click sound for the X

animals

buffalo

snake

bird

be fat, but only used for people this time

to hunt, animals or people

A bit of a trick but this is "a kraal/ holding pen for animals"

If you scored more than 30, you should be sending me an email with information/ links to share or that you would like us to post on NorthernNdebele: northernndebeleblog@gmail.com. Amhlophe, mngan'ami. If not, see the lessons tab or for some vocabulary, check the vocab tab. Have fun bakithi, we look forward to hearing from you.

If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way to this, the newest post.

Lamhla, let us explore some parts about money in siNdebele.

We know that imali (money) is a ways to a means, angithi? Kulungile, let us explore some words.

A dollar is idola and dollars are amadola.

Change is intshintshi so you could ask someone, "Lilentshintshi na?" (do you have money please?).

If something is cheap, it is "tshipa", from the noun "ukutshipa", to be cheap. So you could say, "

kutshipile" (it is cheap).

As we saw, imali is "money" and thus malini is "how much money?/ how much does it cost?" If you didn't hear the answer, you could say "utheni?" (what did you say?) or "khuluma futhi" (say it again). You might be saying this at the "isitolo" (the store/ shop).

If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way to this, the newest post.

Kulungile, lamhla, let us look at some grammar.

Manje, we can all make sentences like this by now, angithi?

Ngiyahamba (Ngi-ya-hamba) - I am going

Ngifuna itiye eletshukela - I want tea with sugar

Umama ulabantwana - Mother has children

Ngilemali - I have money

Right, well, now we can add the prefix for the negative "a-", so that we say ukuthi:

Angihambi (a-ngi-hambi) - I do not go

Angifuni - I do not want

Angila (a-ngi-la) - I do not have

For example, angilemali (I don't have money). Remember, as shown above, with the negative prefix "a-", oftens comes the ending "-i". For example, it is not angihamba, but angihambi, and it is not angikhuluma, but angikhulumi.

If you are just starting your journey to learn and have fun with isiNdebele, please look at the first posts at the bottom of this page (scroll down) and work your way to this, the newest post.

We are always happy to have contributions. Thanks to those who have contributed Ndebele phrases so far. This is a shout out to all other would-be contributors. If there is anything you would like us to put up, please comment or pop an email to:

Salibonani bangane (nice to see you friends). Banjani ekhaya? (How are they all at home?). As always, if you are new, please read from the first post at the bottom of this page and work your way up to the newer posts. Lamhla, let us briefly talk about greeting people in siNdebele. For more detail, please see the new lesson post out here:

Kulungile. When one enters a traditional isiNdebele village, one should stand at the gate a call out "Ekuhle". When someone responds to say yes, "Yebo", one may approach the housing and take a seat so that people from that village may greet one.

The greeting dialogue to address some people could be as follows (with an English translation with a similar meaning):

Salibonani (we see you)

Yebo, salibonani (yes, we see you)

Linjani? (how are you [plural]?)

Sikhona, singabuza lina? (We are here [present], may we ask you?)

Sikhona (We are present)

For more details, see the lessons. Good luck in your journey of learning this southern African language.

Salibonani bangane (nice to see you friends). As always, if you are new, please read from the first post at the bottom of this page and work your way up to the newer posts. There is a new lesson up now (Lesson 9) if you would like to learn more about asking questions and answering them.
e.g. Abantwana bathanda ukudla - Ye, sibili!

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends). As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. Kulungile, lamhla (ok, today) we would just like to direct you to the new, formal siNdebele lesson.
Lesson 7 is now up if you go to the lessons tab above or click here:

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends). As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. Kulungile, lamhla (ok, today) let us look at polite greetings you can use in an isiNdebele society:

People may say 'linjani' instead of 'kunjani' when talking to one person. To this you would reply "siphilile' instead of 'ngiphilile'. If you remember the tenses lesson earlier, 'li' and 'si' are the plural (you pl and we).

After you have finished reading the blog posts from the bottom of this page, you can check out the other tabs at the top of the site such as the formal, free Ndebele lessons. Lesson 5 is now up if you go to the lessons tab above or click here:

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends). As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. Lamhla, I want to just show you an interesting siNdebele song we were listening too. It is called Vumelani Isangoma and you can see it on Youtube here:

After you have finished reading the blog posts at the bottom of this page, you can check out the other tabs at the top of the site such as the free Ndebele lessons. Lesson 4 is up if you go to the lessons tab above or click here:

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends). As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. As usual, the Ndebele words are in bold where possible and translated in brackets. After you have finished reading the blog posts at the bottom of this page, you can check out the other tabs at the top of the site such as the free Ndebele lessons. Lesson 4 is now out if you go to the lessons tab above or click here:

Sure, lamuhla sizakuxoxa izindaba eziGrammar (today we will chat about grammar). We hope you are enjoying learning Ndebele and you must feel free to ask questions at any stage in our journey.

Nouns
Plural nouns are often formed in Ndebele by using the prefixes:
o-
ama-
aba-
imi- and
izi-

For grammar on verbs, see lessons 2 and 3 in the lessons tab. We just want to give you the present tense for 'to be' and 'to have' lamuhla. They are used as prefixes before nouns and verbs respectively.

to be:ngingu - I amungu - you areungu - he/ she issingo - we arelingo - you arebango - they are

to have:ngile - I haveule - you haveule - he/she hassile - we haveule - you havebale - they have

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends). As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. As usual, the Ndebele words are in bold where possible and translated in brackets. After you have finished reading the blog posts at the bottom of this page, you can check out the other tabs at the top of the site.

Lesson 2 is out now if you would like to carry on some formal Ndebele lessons. Click on the "Lessons" tab at the top of this page, or click on this button and it will open in a new tab:

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends). As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. As usual, the Ndebele words are in bold where possible and translated in brackets. If you want to learn isiNdebele more formally, look at the "Lessons" tab. There will be regularly updated Ndebele lessons in this tab:

Lamuhla, ngifuna ukulala njengengwenya (today, I want to sleep like a crocodile [made up phrase]) so I will just give you a few new phrases to continue your fun journey. There are other tabs above for you to investigate. funa = to want e.g. uyafuna ukuhamba, baba? (do you want to leave, man?)phakathi = insideindlu = housengwenya = crocodile e.g. amandla ethu njengengwenya emanzini ayesemphakathini (our/ my strength is like a crocodile in the water)Hayi, suka, ngidiniwe = No, get lost (playful use usually), I am tired) e.g. if someone says a funny joke or plays a prank, you can say "Hayi, suka!" or "hayi, usile!"Usile = you are sillyKulungile bangane, khathesi, ngizakulala njengengwenya (Alright friends, now, I am going to sleep like a flat dog (crocodile))

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends). As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. As usual, the Ndebele words are in bold where possible and translated in brackets.

Lamuhla kulamavocabulary kuphela (today there is vocabulary only):(uku)donsa - (to) pull(uku)tshova - (to) push. The old taxis used to breakdown often so were called "Tshovas" because you had to push them often.imfe - sugar cane. Yum!(uku)khipha - (to) take out/ remove(uku)dobha - (to) pick up(uku)thatha - (to) take/ grabunwabu - chameleon. Also, because chameleons move slowly, they are known as "hamba bijana" in chilapalapa slang i.e. "go slowly".upahla - roofigwayi - tobacco (there is an area in Zimbabwe called "Gwayi")(uku)dubula - (to) shoot with a gunUNkulunkulu - God. e.g. UNkulunkulu angeke ehluleke = God can't fail.ijodo/ amajodo - pig melon/ pig melons. Some people like to use this to describe a fat person in a mildly derogatory fashion.ithambo - bone e.g. of animalsinyathi - buffaloinja - dog. e.g. Inja isayidla inyama (the dog is still eating the meat)umuthi - medicineidlozi/ amadlozi - spirit/ spirits of ancestors or just ghostsukhokho/ izikhokho - ancestor/ ancestors. For some fun, see the "Izikhokho" youtube videos of the South African comic artist, Mdu, such as: http://goo.gl/4r2nDW.On that funny note, ngizakuhamba bangane (I will go friends)

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends).As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. As usual, the Ndebele words are in bold where possible and translated in brackets.

Obviously kulamabizo eminengi kodwa (there are names in a great number but) sizakubona khathesi amabizo 'mnandi (we will look now at nice names [in terms of meanings]).Key: g = usual girl's name and b = usual boy's name but only in my general view.

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends).As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. As usual, the Ndebele words are in bold where possible and translated in brackets.

Ok zwana bangane (listen friends), I want you to listen to some good old siNdebele music lamuhla (today). Awufuni (you don't want)? Hayibo (no way), lalela kuphela bangane (just listen only friends) njalo dinga ma'artists leyi (and find these artists). Some of these old but good songs from kudala (a long time ago) are here so just click and it will open a new window:

Nxa uyafuna ichallenge (if you would like...), try pick up the words njalo sizakuxoxa (and we will chat) about them. Some vocabulary to help a bit:

Ntombi - girl

umfazi / abafazi - wife/ wives

ngabantu - of the people (abantu = people)

tshisa - (sounds like chisa in Ndebele pronounciation) hot/ burn, but its slang meaning is "that's hot" or "cool"

umoya wami - spirit/ soul of mine

tshilamoya - dustdevil/ spirit, it is used for the football team, Highlander's slogan alongside "Bosso"

pata pata - usually refers to the slip-slop/ pata-pata beach shoes but also refers to dance

Ngifuna imali - I want money

Putting "Ma" in front of someone's name is like saying mama someone, or Mrs, so MaDube is Mother Dube (the name "Dube" means zebra by the way)khawuleza - hurry up, similar to tshetsha baba, asihambe (hurry man, we are going)ngithanda - I like e.g. ngithanda isiNdebele (I like Ndebele)Sihawukele- "have mercy on us". Used in mass and prayers e.g. Nkosi sihawukele, Kristu sihawkele, Nkosi sihawukele (Lord have mercy)Angizwa - I don't understand (zwa = understand)Angazi - I don't know (remember, starting with an "a" and ending with an "i" makes a verb negative)

Salibonani bangane (It is nice to see you/ hello friends).As always, if you are new, please read the siNdebele lessons from the bottom (scroll down) and work up to this, the newest post. Kahle, (good) let us look at some ukudla (foods), indigenous fruit and umbhida (vegetables) lamhla (today).

amaputi - roasted maizeimpuphu - maize meal (used to make isitshwala/ sadza/ pap)utshwala- local shake-shake beer made with lots of amanzi (water)inyawuthi - millet (milled into flour or used in beer brewing)amabele - sorghum (milled into flour or used in beer brewing)impuphu yamabele - sorghum flouramazambane - ground nuts/ peanutsidobi - peanut butteramasi - sour milk/ lactoidelele - bush okraamatamatisi - tomatoesizinhlwa - flying ants (you can fry them and they are tasty and oily enough on their own)intethe- locustsamacimbi (there is that "c" click to practice) - worms that are dried and eaten as a delicacy

Salibonani bangane (hello friends), today I want to make a short post. Again, if you are new, please look at the posts right at the bottom (scroll down) and then work your way up to today's newest post.

Ok, I just want to talk about the fact that there are some new/ modern words that there is no real Ndebele words for. The words used are sometimes made by simply placing an "i" in front of the English word, e.g. keyboard= ikeyboard, speaker= ispeaker etc. There are other words for izinto (things) like an aeroplane, which some people say is "iflying machine" but is actually indizamtshina. Also, the name for some things comes from the sound they make e.g. umdududu = motorbike, imoto = motorcar. Kanti, ngicambanga ukuthi (but I think that) you are now worried about the language, so I will leave you with a few real Ndebele phrases to restore your faith:

Uyasebenza lapha aze athole omunye umsebenzi = He is working here until he finds another job.Izilwane zibulala zibuye zidle = The lions kill and then eat.Nxa efika abongibona = When he comes he should see me.Ubatshele ukuthi babohamba ekuseni = Tell them that they should go in the morning.kanzima = with difficultyutshani obuluhlaza = grass green (green grass)ubumnene = kindnessigabha lamanzi = a water container/ tinamandla okunqoba = power to conquerkahle = beautifully, nicely, carefullykakhulu = very, greatly, a lot

Salibonani mngane (hello friend). Today, let's look at some vocab about possession and people. If you are new, as always, please start at the bottom of the blog and work up to this post. Ngiyabonga (thanks).

e.g. Ibizo lakho ngubani? - What is your name? (lit: name your is what?)Ibizo lami nguJohn - My name is John (lit: name of mine is John)ungaphi umama wami? - where is my mother?
remember that "your mother" has a whole different name to "my mother" i.e. unyoko and umama respectively (similarly uyihlo and ubaba for your/ my father)

(uku)Hlala - (to) stayNgaphi - where

Together, they can be put together as: Uhlalaphi? - Where do you stay?

remember that I use "u" for you/him/her but use "ngi" for I, "ba" for they, "si" for we
e.g. mina, ngihlala koBulawayo - me, I stay in Bulawayouhlala eGweru - He stays in Gweruuhlala eGwanda, angithi? you stay in Gwanda, isn't it so?bahlala eHwange - they stay in Hwange

If you are going to say a place with an "r" in it, just remember that siNdebele technically does not use the "r" sound and so replace it with an "l". e.g. France = eflansi

Hawu, salibonani bakhithi (wow, greetings folks). As always, if you are new, please read from the post right at the bottom (scroll down) and then finish with today's newest post.Lamhla sizakuxoxa amabhuku (today we will chat books). There are new links to amazon.com and other places you can order Ndebele books from. Khathesi siyakhangela ilink "Books" phezulu njenge mafree pdf's (now we'll look at the "Books" link at the top for links like these free pdf's):